Method and apparatus for preventing excessive handovers in mobile communication system

Abstract

Provided is a method for preventing excessive handovers in a mobile communication system. In the method, a periodic measurement report message is transmitted from a mobile terminal to a network. The network determines, on the basis of the measurement report message from the mobile terminal, whether a handover of the mobile terminal needs to be performed. Thereafter, the network transmits a Handover_Command message to the mobile terminal if the handover of the mobile terminal needs to be performed. Upon receipt of the Handover_Command message, the mobile terminal performs a handover to a target handover cell according to the Handover_Command message, transmits a Handover_Complete message to the network, and transmits a first measurement report message including neighboring cell information set to Null from the mobile terminal to the network after the transmission of the Handover_Complete message.

Description

PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to an application entitled “Method for Decreasing the Number of Handover in Mobile Communication System” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 31, 2005 and assigned Ser. No. 2005-102762, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for preventing excessive handovers in a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) system. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In general, the second-generation (2G) mobile communication system providing a voice-oriented service uses a GSM scheme, an IS-95 (Interim Standard 95) scheme, and the like. A GSM system was commercialized from Europe in 1992. The GSM system provides a communication service using a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme. [00...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] An object of the present invention is to substantially solve at least the above problems and / or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages below. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing excessive handover in a mobile communication system.

[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, in a method for preventing excessive handovers in a mobile communication system, a periodic measurement report message is transmitted from a mobile terminal to a network. The network determines, on the basis of the measurement report message from the mobile terminal, whether a handover of the mobile terminal needs to be performed. Thereafter, the network transmits a Handover_Command message to the mobile terminal if the handover of the mobile terminal needs to be performed. Upon receipt of the Handover_Command message, the mobile terminal performs a handover to a target handover cell according to the Handover_Command message, transmits a Handover_Complete message to the network, and transmits a first measurement report message including neighboring cell information set to Null from the mobile terminal to the network after the transmission of the Handover_Complete message.

Problems solved by technology

However, the GSM system performs a call handover by a hard handover scheme, not a soft handover scheme by which a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system performs a seamless call handover.

This disconnection of the current call channel temporarily interrupts an ongoing voice call of the GSM mobile terminal during the handover process.

However, because the conventional GSM mobile terminal transmits the measurement report message to the network directly after returning to the dedicated mode, a ping-pong handover may occur.

The ping-pong handover may cause an overload at a system controller of a mobile switching center.

These frequent handovers may cause a failure in a handover and thus generate a call-drop and a noise, which degrades the stability and voice quality performance of the GSM mobile terminal during a call operation.

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